NEW FORD RACING PERFORMANCE PARTS FAST FOCUS CATALOG INSPIRED BY WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP DESIGN AND - Speak Easy - Off Topics - Team Focus - Come On In And Enjoy The Company!
NEW FORD RACING PERFORMANCE PARTS FAST FOCUS CATALOG INSPIRED BY WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Ford Racing Performance Parts reveals its first catalog dedicated a sport compact performance parts for Ford's small cars, including the Focus and Escort ZX3.
The Fast Focus catalog will include many rally-inspired parts from Ford's participation in the World Rally Championship racing series.
LOS ANGELES, Calif., April 2 – For Ford Focus enthusiasts, the Specialty Equipment Market Association's (SEMA) International Auto Salon (IAS) is the place to be this weekend, because it is the only place to get your hands on the new Fast Focus performance parts catalog from Ford Racing Performance Parts. Jamie Allison, Manager of Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP), introduced Ford Racing's plans to leverage the best in Ford's participation in motorsports and in performance engineering from around the world in order to appease the demands of Focus owners here in the States.
"The Ford Focus is the only domestic-branded sport compact car that competes, and wins, in the World Rally Championship," said Allison, "and FRPP is going to bring rally-inspired parts to the streets of America. Cars participating in the World Rally Championship demand world-class performance in all respects, including acceleration, handling and braking capability beyond anything on the road. With Ford Racing's continued emphasis on leveraging the best in engineering and parts, Focus will be the car of choice for sport compact enthusiasts."
Given the growing interest of rally racing in the U.S., FRPP worked directly with Ford Rallye Sport and Cosworth Racing, the engine supplier for the Focus RS WRC rally car, on the creation of performance hardware for the Focus. Key parts in development include a body kit based on the Focus RS WRC03 rally car and Cosworth engine upgrade packages for the Duratec 2.3L I4 engine. These new components will join more than 100 other Focus performance parts - many engineered from other performance variants of the Focus, such as the SVT - as well as highly desired parts from the European Focus RS.
"With more than 1 million Focus models on the road today, the sport compact tuning scene is going to see a change," continued Allison. "The Focus is a great starting point for an individual to create what he or she wants. Our new Ford Racing Performance Parts Fast Focus catalog is going to offer a wide range of parts and accessories ranging from interior and exterior enhancements to bolt-on performance upgrades to full crate engine swap kits."
Cosworth
For anyone interested in motoring and motorsport, the name Cosworth has been synonymous with performance and success for almost 50 years.
Owned by Ford since 1998, Cosworth Racing is simply the most successful engine manufacturer in the history of Formula One, with an incredible 176 race wins, 13 driver and 10 constructor championships to its credit. In Champ Cars and IndyCars, it has more than 200 race wins under its belt, including an outstanding 12 Indy 500 victories. And in rallying, it's been the force behind 45 rally wins, two driver and one constructor championships.
But it's not only in motorsport where Cosworth expertise is legendary: The range of Ford RS Cosworth road cars from the 1980s and 1990s became instant motoring icons across Europe -turbocharged four-cylinder engines, ultimately mated to four-wheel-drive powertrains brought supercar performance and technology to the average car buyer.
Now, Ford Racing and Cosworth Racing are working together to recreate the magic. Cosworth Racing is currently using all of its motorsport and road-going supercar experience to develop a range of performance upgrade kits for the Ford Focus Duratec engine.
Cosworth performance parts for the Focus 2.3L Duratec engine will be available in several levels of upgrade all keeping the engine naturally-aspirated. The first stage will include bolt-on induction parts to free up the engine breathing. The second stage will include the upgrade of several engine components requiring typical car enthusiast installation skills. The third stage will upgrade engine internals and include replacement of major components. This third stage will require the removal and rebuilding of the engine.
As final development and testing conclude in the coming months, more information will be made available. The Cosworth performance parts packages will go on sale this summer.
Focus RS
If you look on any Focus enthusiast website or pick up any European car magazine, you would likely find an article about the Focus RS. The Focus RS was available only in Europe, but it stirred up emotions all over the world. The RS represents the return of the Rallye Sport badge for Ford, and it brings the engineering and technology of Ford's participation in WRC to the road. The RS has become iconic in the world of Focus owners, being that it's turbocharged, wide and aggressive, and has outstanding performance.
Since the Focus RS is no longer in production, the only place to find these highly-desired original factory parts found is in the Fast Focus catalog, and they're available for sale now from Ford Racing. A Focus enthusiast can find everything from the RS including: front and rear steel flared fenders; disc brakes with Brembo calipers; springs and dampers; 18-inch wheels; spoiler; steering wheel; shift knob; parking brake handle; and even the scuff plates for the door sills.
SVT Focus
Taking even more advantage of in-house factory performance offerings, FRPP will offer a range of parts from the SVT Focus for Focus ZX3/ZX5 owners. Factory engineered performance parts are the best option for the sport compact enthusiast, because they have been fully engineered to production specification, factory tested, and proven out in real world situations by those who own the production versions on the road.
Focus enthusiasts will be able to modify their ZX3 and ZX5s to look and perform like the SVT Focus. The first step is the look, and FRPP offers all the parts to get the full SVT look including: front and rear fascias; upper grille; rocker moldings; and rear spoiler. FRPP even offers "performance lighting" with the high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps that are optional equipment on the SVT Focus. For the SVT look in the interior, the Fast Focus catalog features the aluminum pedal kit; SVT leather-wrapped steering wheel; and parking brake lever.
As for getting a ZX3 or ZX5 up to SVT performance levels, FRPP offers a long-tube header kit for the 2.0L Zetec engine derived from the SVT Focus' tubular header. For those enthusiasts looking for their Focus to handle like an SVT, the full suspension package is available including: springs; dampers; bushings; and stabilizer bar.
Wheels
One of the first modifications for any performance enthusiast is to swap out the standard wheels. FRPP has one of the best wheel selections around, with at least seven different styles, 17 and 18-inchers, and some available in different paint schemes. The advantage of wheels from the FRPP Fast Focus catalog is that they are all factory engineered.
FRPP's 18-inch wheel offering comes from the Focus RS which features an 8-inch wide tire surface. For those looking to get the most rubber to the road, this is the wheel, but use of it will require installation of the wider RS front and rear fenders. The rest of the FRPP selections of wheels are sized at 17 x 7 inches. Once again, FRPP takes advantage of the SVT Focus and offers factory wheels from the 2002, 2004, and European Appearance Package SVT models. For the first time, FRPP is offering painted wheels, including the SVT "Euro" wheel available in dark argent, black, gold, or white. As well, the 2002 SVT wheel is offered in black, white, or with a chrome finish.
Partners in Performance: Wings West, Kugel Komponents, and APC
Ford Racing always looks to leaders in the industry to leverage experience and expertise in order to meet certain demands for performance parts. In the Fast Focus catalog, four of our performance affiliates have sections dedicated to their parts offerings: Wings West, Kugel Komponents, and APC.
Ford Racing has worked hand-in-hand with Wings West on the development of a Focus RS WRC-inspired body kit for hatchback versions of the Focus. The Rally Style body kit series offers all the pieces to turn a "regular" Focus into one of the most radical looking machines on the street. The front and rear bumper assemblies are direct replacement pieces for the OEM fascias and made from resistant polyurethane. Keeping with the WRC look, fender flares finish the aggressive "rally" appearance. Wings West even offers a Rally Style rear wing that could not be mistaken for anything except the Focus RS WRC03 rally car.
Ford Racing has even brought V8 power to the sport compact enthusiast scene. Working with Kugel Komponents, Ford Racing will offer a V8 rear-wheel drive conversion kit for the Focus. So, for those enthusiasts out there who must have V8 power, or just want to have the ultimate "sleeper" vehicle, this is it.
APC is a leader in the sport compact aftermarket scene and known for its unique designs for body kits and head- and tail-lamp assemblies. Ford Racing worked specifically with them on unique light offerings for the Focus, and the results are tail-lamps for both the Focus sedan and hatchback.
Over 100 other Focus performance parts
The list above is only a small highlight of the offerings included in the new Fast Focus catalog of sport compact performance parts. There are over 100 other pieces of hardware for the Focus, including a wide range of 2.0L Zetec engine parts, fuel injectors, exhaust systems, clutch and differential upgrades, torque converters, lowering suspension kits, short-shift kits, appearance upgrades, and gauge packages.
Ford Racing Performance Parts, a division of Ford Racing Technology, develops and sells high-performance and racing parts through its network of Ford dealer and performance parts distributors. For more information on Ford Racing Performance Parts, or to find a distributor near you, visit: http://www.fordracingparts.com
